“Do good to Your servant, and I will live; I will obey Your Word.” -Psalm 119:17
If we have nothing to live for, our hopes dashed, then a sorrowful existence hangs about our neck like a millstone. The psalmist wants a life of zeal and purpose while God gives him breath. Where does such blessing lie? In seeing and experiencing the goodness of God. God is always good. We may not understand how this is true especially when we do not get something we want or experience more of the harsher reality sin’s curse has brought upon this world. How do we know God is still good in spite of the pain of sin? He sent His Son Jesus to pay our sin debt so that one day when we awake to see Christ face to face there will be no sin to taint our hearts. Yes, God is good all the time because His mercy is bigger than the oceans yet sufficient with one drop toward redeemed sinners. Therefore, in light of who God is and what He has done for a soul so unworthy, our response should be a desire to obey Him. Like the psalmist we pray to obey as our worship, becoming a daily living sacrifice before God’s Throne of mercy.
Grace upon grace,
April
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship.” -Romans 12:1
“Do good to Your servant, and I will live; I will obey Your Word.
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.
I am a stranger on earth; do not hide Your commands from me.
My soul is consumed with longing for Your law at all times.
You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed and who stray from Your commands.
Remove from me scorn and contempt, for I keep Your statutes.
Though rulers sit together and slander me, Your servant will meditate on Your decrees.
Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.”
Psalm 119:17-24 (Gimel)
This portion is a prayer for the Lord’s quickening- a personal spiritual revival. The psalmist knows what is good for him to truly live as God intended- by following His ways. He asks the Father to give him spiritual vision, an understanding of the law. As we grow in knowledge of God’s Word we are equipped to navigate life’s perilous trials, discern minute decisions, and rightly enjoy God’s blessings. The psalmist has a desire to live in holiness because he loves his God.
Even when he is persecuted for seeking God, the psalmist resolves to persevere in the Lord’s commands because he has experienced God’s love and mercy. He can trust his Father with perfect justice. The Lord will also tether us to Himself through His Word. He holds you fast even when slanderers come. God is our home in a foreign land. He will counsel you as you meditate on His truth. In the interim of his pilgrimage, the psalmist finds solace in going to the words of God. To the psalmist it is like finding a piece of home in a strange land. This is our comfort too- Christ is always near.
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word.
I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands.
I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
Praise be to You, O Lord; teach me Your decrees.
With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth.
I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways.
I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your Word.”
Psalm 119:9-16 (Beth)
With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth. (verse 13)
Remembering- this is the key for the Christian to persevere. We recount God’s faithfulness to mankind through His redemptive work on the cross; we recount God’s faithfulness to us individually through the life story He weaves for us; we remember God’s laws and His promises. Do not forget what God has done, is doing now and what He will not fail to do in the future. Remember and tell others the wonders of our Lord.
I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. (verse 14)
When we find the Pearl of Great Price, naturally there is rejoicing. The riches of God are true but require faith and patience to take hold of. In Christ the believer is rich and has everything he needs. Yet these riches are not the material possessions the world treasures. To be rich in the Lord first means you have found forgiveness of your sins, eternal peace and fellowship with God through Jesus. Second it means that the Lord will be faithful to help extract you from the vanities of this world. We begin to truly see for the first time, our satisfaction, joy and purpose is in God alone. Thirdly, it means Jesus will give us Himself to imitate as He tenderly guides us on our pilgrimage. He gives us His fruit to cultivate in our own hearts which slowly manifests in our thoughts, speech and actions over the course of a lifetime. So be deeply happy Christian- Jesus is yours and you are His. No person was ever richer than the one who belongs to God.
I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways. (verse 15)
To meditate and consider a matter is wise. Such a thoughtful person will look at an argument from all sides weighing the outcomes. When we study God’s Word we cannot approach it as a purely academic exercise. One will only gain head knowledge, neglecting to allow the words of God affect their hearts. This is where change takes place, in the inner man. We need God’s Spirit to help us know how to think about Him and His will. Our prayer each day can sound like David’s psalm, “Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long (Psalm 25:4-5). How can we know the path He has charted for all His children? Look to the Scriptures. The King’s royal words are true and for our own good. They will not fail you because God will never fail you.
I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your Word. (verse 16)
To delight and neglect are opposite in desire. We delight in what we hold dear, our treasures, our hopes and interests. We neglect what seems dull, hard or irrelevant- it does not captivate us at all. This is the challenge placed before each child of God. We can go to Him, asking for His help in our unbelief, when our faith is shaken or stagnant. The more we read and comprehend truth, the more our belief and love contain the proper nutrients to grow. The flame of our heart’s desire will burn brightly as discipline welcomes delight in the duty of seeking the Lord our God.
Who is God in this passage? (Psalm 119:9-16 Beth)
God is our Teacher. He helps His children live according to His Word. His Spirit ignites the flame of love and belief in our hearts. God says to seek Him and love Him above all else because He knows that HE is the very best for us. The Lord is the Pearl of Great Price.
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word.
I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands.
I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
Praise be to You, O Lord; teach me Your decrees.
With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth.
I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways.
I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your Word.”
Psalm 119:9-16 (Beth)
Verse 9 is the main question for the rest of this octave. The psalmist shows how our faith is to be daily active and very practical. Christians are called to reflect the beauty of God’s commands, His holiness, and His character. This is what it means to become like Christ.
The psalmist lists a number of actions to take as believers discipline themselves under the delight of doing God’s will. Most of the actions are things we do positively in pursuing a life according to God’s Word. But there are negative activities we must avoid as well, as a resolve to not displease the Lord:
I seek You with all my heart; (verse 10a)
This is a positive action. Do I seek God each day with all my heart? Is He my treasure and delight? (Deuteronomy 6:5)
do not let me stray from Your commands. (verse 10b)
A plea to not let the psalmist stray from the truth. Our hearts are prone to wander, looking for love, identity, or satisfaction in someone or something other than our Heavenly Father (Isaiah 55:6-7).
I have hidden Your Word in my heart (verse 11a)
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is a result of treasuring Scripture. When we love His Book we learn more about God- who is He? who am I? The Bible tells me I am a sinner saved by the blood of Jesus. He is patiently and tenderly transforming His saints by His grace, through the help of the Holy Spirit.
that I might not sin against You. (verse 11b)
A desire not to sin blossoms from a regenerate heart as he gazes intently on God’s law. He sees how he has fallen short, failed God, but is also aware of the great cost to win us back into fellowship with Him. The deep deep love of the Father sent His Son Jesus to pay the price meant for us. Christ inherited our just judgement, we inherited merciful righteousness. Pray we will not grieve the Spirit over careless words, thoughts and actions!
Praise be to You, O Lord; teach me Your decrees. (verse 12)
The Holy Spirit is our Teacher. The psalmist did not have this permanent blessing as we do today. Praise You Father for this wonderful gift! Anything we learn from His Word is because God has graciously revealed it to us. The Lord gives us eyes to see, ears to hear, a soft heart to respond and obey. As He teaches, our love for Him will grow. Bless You Father.
“You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.” -Psalm 119:4
The psalmist in Psalm 119 rightly understands pursuing God means living out the commands He has given. It isn’t enough to mentally assent to the words of Scripture. We must be people activated in the power of the Holy Spirit, putting hands and feet to what our mouths profess. We also acknowledge that no one fulfills the ways of God perfectly except Jesus His Son. Our failure to carry out God’s standard shows us our need for Christ. Only then can we persevere in faith, pursuing holiness because of what Jesus has done for God’s children. A regenerate heart will want to follow their Shepherd, knowing we will stumble but equally aware of our King’s grace toward redeemed sinners. He keeps pouring out more mercy, more love, more fellowship with Himself. We serve a just and gentle Savior. God is faithful to help us obey when we abide in Him. He is faithful to pick us up when we fall into the miry pit as well.
God demands submission to His authority but not as a harsh taskmaster. He expects us to follow Him out of love and trust. What do you know about God? What is His character like? His faithfulness in past events? The same God who rescued His people from slavery in Egypt through Moses, the same Father who allowed His only Son Jesus to die for sinners, is the same Lord over all today. He does not change (Hebrews 13:8). We can trust a God like this. He is willing and capable to deliver His people from bondage, to grow us in grace, guiding His children in obedience to His will.
“They do nothing wrong; they walk in His ways.” -Psalm 119:3
Those who are hidden in Christ are no longer condemned (Romans 8:1). In God’s eyes we are innocent because Jesus exchanged His robe of righteousness for our sinful garments on the cross. It is only when we step out of His will, operating in the flesh that we sin. When pursuing holiness which is Christlikeness, we are safe, surrounded by the hedges of God’s commands. But the curse has infected every heart, therefore a life long earthly battle of two natures is at work in every child of God. Our part is to stay faithful and diligent in our fight against sin, knowing how real spiritual warfare is (Ephesians 6:12-13). Those who do no wrong are abiding in the Spirit, for we cannot be righteous apart from Christ.
What blessing, what relief we find when our minds rightly see our sin, confess it, repent and turn back into restored fellowship with God! One day, soon and very soon, our fellowship with the Lord will be eternally unbroken, never again tainted with sin.
“Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart.” -Psalm 119:2
This verse is similar to the previous. We who keep God’s statutes (His commands) are blessed. But how do we keep them? Like the psalmist says in verse 1, those who walk in God’s ways are blessed. Our lives bear fruit of the commitment we have to the Lord. Whatever or whomever we love will be apparent in our actions, speech and thoughts. You and I cannot be sinless, perfectly keeping God’s law, which is why Jesus came. Yet our character is consistent with whom? As a child of God or a beast of Satan? Not that we are saved by our good works, but the visible signs point to the transformation of our inner man hidden to all but God. In a sermon I heard yesterday the preacher said the work of Christ in us precedes the work we do for Him, never the other way around.
So bear fruit because of the salvific work Christ has done for you. If we truly love Him, we will obey His commands (John 14:15). God is faithful to help His children walk in obedience in the power of His Spirit, who dwells in the heart of every redeemed sinner. Where does one start to learn what God’s statutes are? By seeking the Lord through His Holy Word. God is faithful to reveal Himself to those who search with all sincerity and desire.
Grace upon grace,
April
Grow deeper: Matthew 7:15-29; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13
“Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.” -Psalm 119:1
What does it mean to be blessed? To be blessed by God? The Lord’s favor is on those He blesses. Only the children of God have tasted and experienced the favor of Him who has rescued their souls from endless, Godless torment. Even if the wicked enjoy material wealth, power, success, popularity and temporal happiness, the saints of God are the ones eternally rich in the blessings of Christ. Do you remember the story Jesus told of the rich man and the poor beggar Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)? Who was the one who stood by Abraham’s side in Heaven? Our temporal circumstances do not indicate whether we are favored by God or not. This was particularly helpful for me when I recently needed an eternal perspective check-up. My temporal reality was causing despair, but you and I must remember this life is not the whole picture. Our story begins here, but last forever with God for those who are in Christ.
Take heart when evil prevails. God will have His perfect justice. And which side will you be on? The true believer committed to faithfully walking the path of righteousness will hear on that day “Well done good and faithful servant! Come and share your Master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:14-30). As His children persevere in holiness day in and day out, we learn not to be consumed by the cares of this world but look heavenward, walking worthy of the calling we have received. This does not mean Christians are to disengage with the affairs of this world, but use our gifts and resources to exercise godly dominion as commanded by God (Genesis 1:26-28). Keeping this in mind, Christians also realize we are not God, but must trust in His loving sovereignty to rule all things (Daniel 2:20-22). I am just a vessel for His service.
The Apostle Paul comforted the church in Corinth with these words:
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Jesus Christ has covered all of God’s elect in His robe of righteousness, in exchange for our filthy rags. Now the Lord says this is His way, walk in it and be eternally blessed.
Grace upon grace,
April
Further encouragement:
The sermon I heard on the rich man and the poor beggar is by John MacArthur. You can listen to it here.
“Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.” -Psalm 97:11
One spiritual marker in my life has been remembering the wonder of God. That night I distinctly remember, as the Lord drew my eyes up to His star filled sky, instead of inwardly focusing on myself. It’s not that I didn’t understand Him to be the Creator Who spoke everything into existence. I knew He threw the stars into space, igniting the sun and moon, causing planets and galaxies to appear in splendor. Growing up I heard creation stories of God forming the elephant and the ant; the eagle and the caterpillar. I understood He made me according to Psalm 139. But somehow I wasn’t focusing on His Glory as much, still treating Him casually.
The commentator in my psalter devotional speaks of such thinking, calling believers to consider God in all His Majestic Glory. Confess wrong thinking of the Lord in which He seems small. By meditating on God’s Greatness, His truth, radiance and glory take root in us as we seek Him each day. I’m convinced that the downfall of Christianity has happened because believers stopped communicating to the world the wonder of our Lord. As we behold God, this serves as spiritual arrows which lead to questions about Jesus, the Gospel, commands in Scripture and finally, where we’ll spend eternity. We begin remembering Who God is in His rightful place by first telling the truth to ourselves. Some exchange the truth for a lie (even in the Church) which is why it is imperative to remain vigilant in pursuing truth, clinging to the Author of Truth. We begin with sowing- so let us sow, becoming our truest selves in Christ.
Let us be consistent in our reaction against evil. Whether this be condemning six months of burning cities, looting small businesses, wreaking terror against police or rioting at our nation’s capital. There is a stark contrast in peaceful protest versus chaotic rampaging. The latter does not promote any kind of justice, but is the exact opposite. The Bible says, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19). We do not repay evil with evil, but sow a deep seated trust in the Lord’s Sovereignty and wisdom to lead us.
Let us speak plainly. Words matter in how we say them. The language indoctrination caused by “political correctness” has seeped into every aspect of our culture. Two people may use the same word but have very different meanings. In his book ‘Live Not By Lies’ Rod Dreher says, “we are repeating the Marxist habit of falsifying language, hollowing out familiar words and replacing them with a new, highly ideological meaning. Propaganda not only changes the way we think about politics and contemporary life but it also conditions what a culture judges worth remembering”. Avoid rhetoric and kernels of truth kneaded into a lie. Also develop discernment to spot it when you hear it. Language is powerful. We must speak kindly but plainly.
Let us remember our history. One way to sow truth is to have a correct understanding of where we’ve come from. This applies not only to one’s nation but our Biblical history as well. We cannot understand the present if we are not informed about the past. Christians need not repeat the wicked actions of previous generations if we know what signs to look for and how to respond accordingly. How we react to the present will dictate who we are as a people in the future.
Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching(Hebrews 10:25). In light of our cultural climate and political theater, believers need one another now more than ever. Some benefits of gathering together include strengthening the weary and downcast Christian, knowing they are not alone but in the presence of their spiritual family. We also lift one another up with Biblical encouragement, smiles, hugs, handshakes and accountability as we meet face to face. As we sing songs of worship, receive communion, hear words of exhortation in preaching, knit our hearts in prayer, we are being edified, our spirits refreshed. This is the ministry of meeting together which Hebrews 10:25 commands. It is for our own good.
Let us live in truth with our words and deeds. For generations America in particular have sown what God hates- the abortion of millions of people created in His image, same-sex mirages, sexual promiscuity which has led to pornography, pre-martial sex, adultery, lust and divorce to name a few. The material wealth of this country has turned Americans into a consumerist entertainment driven society, dulling our spirits as we live only for the temporal. We are now seeing the fruit of sin heaped in judgment today. It seems each day we wait to see which powder keg will explode, leaving many in a state of fear, anxiety and despair. This is not to be the mark of a Christian. This is not our legacy. Instead, let us cling to the Lord who is all Truth, Power, Wisdom, Judgment and Love. Know what God’s Word says, viewing each event from a spiritual perspective and act accordingly. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:12-13).
Let us sow righteousness each day into our ordinary lives. This is how we bring about a quiet resistance to the evil of our day. Meet with others believers where you can speak freely, teach your children Biblical principles, protect the family unit, have a correct understanding of the past. Victory has been secured in Jesus Christ. He has already overcome sin and death for us. His is an everlasting kingdom which will never be destroyed, intimidated or censored (Daniel 7:9-27). Although the present time will require courage, boldness and sacrifice to live out what we profess, Christians must act like the victors we are. The next generation depends on how well we sow.
It’s mid-morning. I dump the rest of his soggy cereal in the sink. Jesse is now at school, peppering his teaching aide with the same question, “when is P.E.?” It’s his favorite part of the day. Normally I listen to a podcast driving back home, navigating the morning traffic and various school zones. The Holy Ordinary Collective podcast highlights stories from everyday life- people like you and me. I’m struck with the exquisite detail in storytelling from the speaker as she composes the soundtrack to someone’s life.
The listener gets a window view into the ordinariness of it all, which may not seem newsworthy. But what I’m drawn to in these slices of life is the faith of the person in each story. The Lord weaves His tapestry of grace through the fabric of each sentence. The speaker’s soothing voice encourages my spirit by sharing snippets of a faithful follower. The stories here aren’t flashy, but lived out in the normal moments. The woman in Unexpected Giftsspoke of our lives lived not on the mountain tops or in valleys, but mainly somewhere in-between.
Pour the coffee. Drive to work. Put a load of laundry in. Repeat the next day.
So what does it look like for those of us who desire to usher in the Kingdom of God here? How can a stay-at-home mom, a full-time employee, the elderly, a high schooler, change the world? What does that even mean?
Bringing God’s Kingdom to earth, happens mostly as we live each day pursuing personal holiness, delighting in the wonder of God. The sacred work is in staying faithful right where God has called us.
Paul illustrates the body of Christ by comparing it to an actual body (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). There are many parts and we each have a role to partake. We change the world in our own circle of influence. We raise the next generation, making disciples in our own home. We say ‘yes’ to an opportunity for local missions or lead a small group. We say ‘yes’ to staying faithful in our marriages, family devotions, and in prayer. We intentionally build relationships, attend our local church and look for ways to serve one another.
Our everyday life is where our faith grows up. This isn’t a product of moralism or legalism, but out of the root of genuine love for Jesus. We want to be like Him, to know Christ and to make Him known.
When we are tempted at the end of the day to rush through bedtime prayers with our kids let us remember how to patiently persevere. When the floor needs to be swept (again) from all the crumbs on the floor may we not complain. It may seem monotonous, pointless and even fruitless at times, but God uses us in the various jobs we have to point others to Christ in what we do and say. You may be the only person someone sees Jesus in today. We may never know the impact our words and simple acts of love have on another soul.
The Lord urges us to not grow weary in doing good. Your faithfulness to God’s design for your life is what makes you a world changer. I don’t think that’s an overstatement. We were not created to “save the world”. Jesus already did that. But we do get to take part in declaring Jesus’ mark on our lives to a lost people.
We plant our feet in the soil where we are, being deeply rooted in God’s Holy Word, serving as the living, breathing, body of Christ. The domino effect of our obedience brings God’s Kingdom to earth so that one day people from every tribe, tongue, and nation will give glory to God (Revelation 7:9-12).
So I’ll pick Jesse up from school this afternoon, in between the errands and grocery shopping. It isn’t glamorous, but it is obedient and pleases God.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:9-10
redeemed in grace 